Inbound requests through our website run the gamut. Some are real, some are not.
For instance, we handle hardware procurement every day — but always on behalf of existing clients. When a non‑client reaches out cold about a large equipment purchase they supposedly need to make, we know it’s a common scam in our industry.
Despite knowing this, I still give each inbound inquiry some attention – wouldn’t want to accidentally treat a real opportunity as junk.
One of those junk inquiries from last week struck me as fodder for a quick cybersecurity blog post, a chance to share a few simple reminders for staying vigilant. Here is a screenshot of the inquiry:
If you look up the sender online, you quickly see that Rick Sigman is indeed a real person associated with the company being spoofed.
From there, however, things quickly fall apart.
- Rick is retired.
- The phone number had a 949 area code (same as ours – also not an accident) but this Pennsylvania company has no presence here in Orange County.
- The email address was misspelled, with an ‘i’ missing and an ‘s’ added at the end – alterations that are easy to miss in a rush.
But that little typo was the whole story and enough to confirm this inquiry was illegitimate.
You’ll notice, however, this wasn’t a sloppy scam. It contained:
- A real person’s name
- A believable business scenario
- A phone number that made it feel local
- Calm, professional language
- No obvious threats or broken English
That’s the point.
Modern phishing and scam attempts don’t always scream urgency or chaos. Some are designed to feel routine — just another inbound request you might respond to on autopilot.
The real giveaway wasn’t the message itself; it was what we noticed because we didn’t rush.
The Most Underrated Cybersecurity Skill: Patience
We spend a lot of time talking about tools, software and controls. Those matter.
But today’s reminder is simpler: pausing for 60 seconds to search the person and company online can prevent hours (or worse) of cleanup later.
Scammers often rely on speed. Defenders always win with patience.
